The Fellowship of Lifea Christian-based vegetarian network founded in 1973

ArticlesProtesters Free Nuns' Condemned Hens

From Agscene (Spring '90 edition):

Animal rights activists broke into the second hen battery hen unit at
Our Lady of Passion Monastery, Daventry on 24th November and released a
large number of hens from their cages, destroying some equipment.

This followed after the High Court had ruled that the 5,000 hens in
the first of the monastery's two units had to be slaughtered because the
flock was carrying salmonella. There was also a question about it in the
house of Commons. Answering, John Gummer said that infected flocks had
to be slaughtered and there could be no exceptions on the grounds that
the unit was owned by a religious order. The first flock was killed on
20th October.

In December the remaining unit, also of 5,000 hens, reached the end
of their lay and were due for slaughter.

The nuns had used every trick in the book they knew to get sympathy
with the media, but generally speaking they were seen for what they
were. The nuns claim to spend six hours a day in contemplation. Perhaps
they should contemplate the blasphemy of cursing what God has blessed.